86,
17, November
1987 Vol.
No. 21
VISTA
Tuesday Edition
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Supreme court decision nullifies senate actions By Elaine Coleman Student Writer
Central State University Supreme Court Chief Justice Michelle Gallman took the podium at the Nov. 16 senate session to give the court's six to one decision that any business transacted by the CSU senate prior to the elections of senators this semester be considered null and void. "I'm here today to read to all of you the opinion of the court on the case brought before it by Sen. Lee Allen questioning, among other things, the quorum issue here in the senate and whether or not business conducted in the senate, and elections made in the senate prior to the elections to fill the vacant seats in the senate, were in violation of the constitution and whether they were legal," said Gallman. The CSU Supreme Court majority opinion stated that it adhered to its view that a quorum is as defined and explained in Robert's Rules of Order. Robert's Rules of Order states a quorum is a majority of all the members of an assembly, unless there is a special rule on the subject. The supreme court ruled that 23 members constituted a majority in the senate's case, because it found no special rule regarding a quorum in the Constitution of the Central State University Student Association. The court also ruled that any business transacted by the CSU senate during the 1987 Fall Semester in the absence of a quorum, except to adjourn or obtain a quorum, be considered null and void. It held that all other questions raised by Allen's case were either irrelevant or nonjusticiable. After the majority opinion was read, Supreme Court Justice Jay
Paul Gumm read his concurring opinion and Justice Gallman read her dissenting view. "This was probably one of the toughest court cases I have ever seen in a student supreme court," Gumm said. Gallman told the senate that the supreme court's decision was final and asked that no individual justice be questioned about their decision. "The decision of the court is final because we have original jurisdiction regarding matters of the constitution," she said. "There is not going to be any discussion or any questions to any individual justice on any points made in the decision." After the court's opinion was read, Senate Speaker Kirk Killion relinquished his position. He had to do so because his appointment was nullified by the opinion of the supreme court. All people who were appointed to positions by Speaker Killion were also asked to relinquish their positions. After Killion's resignation, Gallman took the gavel to conduct remaining senate business. Sen. Jeff Aynes then moved for a special election for speaker. Senators Killion and Allen were nominated with Killion being elected 31-2. Sen. Bill Smith then made a motion that all people appointed by Killion prior to quorum be reaffirmed. The motion passed unanimously. A motion was then made by Sen. Lee Allen that all actions taken by the senate from the beginning of the semester until last Monday, with the exception of the budget, be reaffirmed. The motion passed 20-14. Allen also moved that Student Association President Jeff Shilling be asked to submit to the senate a new budget for the remaining school term along wth a
Campus leader deceased From Staff Reports
Services for CSU student John David Buttry were held Saturday at the Surrey Hills Baptist Church. He was interred in Resurrection Cemetery. He died Nov. 12. A political science major, Buttry was named the 1986 Outstanding Student in Liberal Arts . At CSU, Buttry served as president of the Student Association, Presidents' Club, and the PreLaw Club. He was named Outstanding Greek Man, and was a member of the College
Republicans. Buttry was also a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the Interfraternity Council, University Center Activities Board and Alpha Chi Honor society. Buttry is survived by his mother, Mildred Lewis, Yukon; a sister, Kathy Buttry and a brother, Robert Buttry, both of Oklahoma City; and his paternal grandmother, Marie Buttry, Wichita Kans. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the CSU Alumni Association.
ledger showing all expenses up to this date. The motion passed 25-8 with two abstentions. Because Shilling had planned to submit a revised budget at the end of the semester, the president announced that he was going to resubmit the current budget. "Not to be disobedient or disrespectful, but I only have three weeks before I give you a revised budget," he said. "I want you to have the opportunity to have supplies and materials the rest of the semester." Speaker Killion then directed the Continuum Committee to incorporate the supreme court's ruling into the senate's Constitution for presentation to the senate for their approval. In other business, Shilling announced he had vetoed both the AIDS Awareness Week and New Student Comprehensive Support Program resolutions. Shilling supported both bills. However, he felt that more time was needed to execute an effective AIDS Awareness Week. He also felt that the CSU Admissions and Advisement Committee needs to be consulted before the Student Support Program resolution could be finished.
Photographic Services: Dan Smith
Jackets were sported by Misty Attebery and Jeff Goodwin (right) Wednesday as temperatures stayed cool. Forecasters predict temperatures to remain chilly through Thursday.
CSU restricts smoking CSU has designated nonsmoking most areas of all buildings on campus in accordance with a state law that took effect in October. "We have attempted to comply with the law by designating smoking and non-smoking areas within state owned buildings," said
Lindsey C. Owsley, assistant vice president for Administration. Owsley also said, however, that people can smoke within offices if all the people who work there agree. Owsley said no fine was involved for violators of the law, but added that offenders would be asked to put their cigarettes out.
Math course to lose credit By J. Money The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education has removed the credit allowance for one course offered at CSU, elementary and intermediate algebra. Darrell Gilliland, acting director of Admissions, Records and Registrations, said the Regents decided to no longer offer that course for credit because high school graduates should have that level of skill already before they go to college. "The Regents looked at four
areas (math, science, history and english) to determine if any of the classes offered by higher education duplicated instruction an eligible college student should already have taken," Gilliland said. "The elementary and intermediate algebra class was the only one offered by CSU that was determined to be such a duplication," Gilliland continued. Gilliland said that the class will no longer be offered for credit
beginning the Fall 1988 semester. "After that, students can still take the class to get their math capabilities up to par, but they won't get any credit for it," Gilliland said. Gilliland said that campus instructors and advisors had been asked to notify students about the change in credit for the class. None of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education were available for comments on the new policy.
Charges dismissed against Leone After deciding the case would be too difficult to prosecute, Oklahoma County prosecutors dropped charges against former Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Chancellor Joe A. Leone Thursday. Leone, 54, was indicted by a grand jury May 6. Prosecutors filed five felony counts against him. Four counts accused him of filing false travel claims, and one accused him of lying to the grand jury. On Oct. 29, however, Oklahoma County Special Judge Carolyn Ricks dismissed the charges against Leone. Ricks took
that action after she determined that prosecutors failed to show that Leone did anything wrong during a preliminary hearing. Prosecutors had asked a district judge to reinstate the charges against Leone after the case was dismissed by Ricks, but they withdrew the request Thursday. In a The Daily Oklahoman article published Nov. 13, Leone was reported to have written a formal letter of apology Tuesday to District Attorney Bob Macy. In the letter, Leone said he did not think he had done anything wrong. He apologized for any ap-
pearance of impropriety that his activities may have caused, and said he was repaying the money paid to him by Rose State College for the travel claims. The allegedly false travel claims were filed by Leone in 1979, while he was working for Rose State College as a consultant and serving as vice chancellor for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Leone resigned from his post with the Regents in April. He said Thursday that he planned to return to the education profession.